"We're home!" x2

"She's still not back?" Ryohei turned on the living room light, looked around the quiet apartment, and placed his shopping bags on the tatami mat.

"She's probably crying her eyes out somewhere, or waiting for us at the wrong train station," Yurine said, her tone perfectly flat. She took her new bath bombs and body lotion to the washroom. "Every time Jashin-chan goes to the arcade, she loses every last yen, not even leaving enough for train fare. She always has to walk home."

"So you dragged me to a different station on purpose?" Ryohei said, a bead of sweat on his brow.

"Mhm. I wanted to teach her a lesson, help her learn some self-control," Yurine replied, emerging from the washroom with a sigh that was a mixture of exasperation and disappointment. "But it doesn't matter how many times she learns this lesson, it never sticks. She's completely incorrigible."

Ryohei nodded. He was beginning to fully endorse Yurine's methods. Doubt Yurine, understand Yurine, agree with Yurine!

Putting the scumbag snake out of his mind, he called out, "Well, let's not wait for her. Time to open the stall."

"Okay, just a second," Yurine said, before slipping into the toilet. Having the toilet, sink, and shower in separate rooms was a great feature of Japanese apartments.

"Sure," Ryohei replied, and went to the kitchen to start moving the prepared ingredients downstairs.

They opened for business half an hour later than the previous two nights. As Ryohei pulled the cart near their usual spot, he could see a group of people pacing back and forth under the streetlights, clearly waiting for something.

Someone with sharp eyes spotted Ryohei and Yurine and immediately hurried over with a look of delight. In an instant, a crowd swarmed them.

"Whoa—! Chef, you're finally here! We were afraid you weren't coming tonight!"

"I'm starving! What do you have? I'll take two of whatever's good!"

"I'm so glad I waited!"

"What are you selling today? Anything new?"

"Are you really not selling the onigiri and Tonjiru anymore?"

"..."

"Excuse me, please make some space! Let me set up the stall first!" Ryohei called out to the people in front. The crowd immediately parted.

Someone asked curiously, "Chef, why are you pulling the cart yourself? Where's the snake-girl?"

"She had something to take care of today, so she couldn't make it," Ryohei replied vaguely. He parked the cart on the side of the road, and Yurine handed him a damp towel to wipe his hands.

"Tonight's special is the Glowing Katsu Sando!" he announced. "They are 1,500 yen each. And the purchase limit is two per person."

As he spoke, he opened the large, insulated container at the front of the cart.

Instantly, a warm, golden light bloomed forth. The crowd collectively gasped, their eyes widening in awe.

"Ooh!"

"The new item is beautiful! A Katsu Sando? It looks like a work of art!"

"That smells amazing!"

"It's gorgeous! I don't know if I can bring myself to eat it!"

Nestled inside the container were perfectly assembled Katsu Sandos. The golden-brown panko crust on the thick pork cutlets seemed to shimmer with a soft, warm light. The cross-section revealed a thick, juicy slab of pork, perfectly cooked, nestled between two slices of impossibly soft, white milk bread. The aroma of perfectly fried, high-quality pork and tangy sauce filled the air.

Click!

Someone couldn't resist taking out their phone to snap a picture. The crowd was buzzing with excitement.

Of course, some people were unhappy about the purchase limit. Before Ryohei could explain, one of last night's customers was already telling the newcomers about the scalper incident. The wealthy customers who had hoped to buy in bulk looked like their world was ending. Meanwhile, those on a tighter budget who just wanted to try the new item started talking to their neighbors about splitting an order.

And so, the frantic sales began!

Asada Naomi was an elite lawyer with her own private firm. She had been in a bad mood after work yesterday and had stumbled upon the unbelievable treasure of a food stall while taking a walk. Unfortunately, she had arrived late and missed out on what everyone was calling the legendary beef and salmon onigiri. When the chef himself said he wouldn't be selling them again for a while, her regret had deepened.

That regret, upon seeing today's new item, transformed into an intense desire to buy. If I can't have the onigiri, then I absolutely must try this new creation!

She didn't hesitate for a second, paying for two Katsu Sandos.

Carrying the bag of glowing food back to her office, Asada Naomi eagerly sat down at her desk, opened the bag, and took out one of the sandwiches. The rich, savory aroma filled the room, and the golden light from the cutlet illuminated her face. Even seeing it for the second time, the incredible feeling of wonder hadn't diminished in the slightest. No matter how many times she saw it, it was still magical.

"Itadakimasu!"

Without hesitation, she put her hands together briefly, then picked up the sandwich. She parted her red lips and took a bite. The first sensation was the pillowy softness of the bread, followed by the incredible, audible crunch of the panko crust. Then came the pork—so tender and juicy it practically melted in her mouth, its rich flavor perfectly complemented by the tangy, fruity tonkatsu sauce.

"This is so delicious…!"

"The flavor and texture are absolutely perfect!"

As a lawyer, Asada Naomi was usually a serious, no-nonsense person. But at this moment, the lines of her face softened into an expression of pure bliss. With just one bite, she had been completely and utterly conquered.

"..."

It was as if she were no longer in her office, but in a grand, ornate courtroom. It was the final, deciding moment of the biggest case of her career. The pressure was immense. Just as she felt her confidence waver, a golden light shone down from above. A plate descended from the heavens, bearing the glowing Katsu Sando.

She took a bite. With the incredible crunch, a surge of power and absolute certainty flooded her senses. It was the taste of victory.

She stood up and delivered the most brilliant, unassailable closing argument of her career. The courtroom erupted in applause. The gavel fell. "Guilty!" the judge declared for her opponent. She had won. The Katsu Sando wasn't just food; it was the embodiment of triumph.

Her consciousness returned to reality.

Asada Naomi opened her eyes and looked down at the half-eaten sandwich in her hand.

"Incredible… truly magical."

Looking at it now, the Katsu Sando in the box wasn't a star that had fallen to earth; it was a captured piece of the sun, a golden trophy of pure, delicious victory.

"The new item is amazing! Absolutely wonderful!"

Emotion welled up inside her. Asada Naomi opened her desk drawer, pulled out a can of Asahi beer, popped the tab, and took several large gulps. Then she began to alternate, taking huge bites of the sandwich and big swallows of beer, happier than she had been in a long time.